What’s the best way to study for a big test? Take more tests, finds a new meta-analysis in the journal Review of Educational Research.
Based on their analysis of 118 studies, researchers from Washington State University and from Simon Fraser University in Canada found practice tests were more effective than any other methods to learn material, such as re-studying or practicing the content over time.
Practice tests that used a mixed format of different types of questions had a greater effect on students’ memory than recalling information from cues or short-answer questions. And a little went a long way: The effect of practice testing was stronger when students took only one before the real test, rather than two or more.
